Visiting the Blue Eye Albania (Syri i Kalter): My Honest Tips + What to Expect
If you are visiting Saranda, then you should take a couple of hours and discover the Blue Eye – or, in Albanian, Syri i Kaltër.
But what is the Blue Eye in Albania?
Well, this natural phenomenon is a spring that is a constant 10 degrees, even at the heat of the summer.
The Blue Eye’s water is so clear that you can see every little particle.
It’s called the Blue Eye because the spring looks like an eye if you look from the metal watching tower above.
Divers have dived as far as 50 meters down into Syri i Kaltër but have failed to go any further due to its length and the pressure that the spring holds.
The surrounding nature is very beautiful.
When visiting the Blue Eye of Albania you can expect a dense forest and many colours, especially in spring!
How to Get to Blue Eye/Syri i Kaltër
Where is the Blue Eye in Albania?
Well, it’s located in the Blue Eye National Park which is about 12.5 miles east of Saranda.
To get from Saranda to the Blue Eye of Albania, you can either drive, catch a bus or take a taxi.
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The drive takes about 20-30 minutes.
Bus: Otherwise you can catch the Saranda to Blue Eye bus which heads towards Gijrokastёr (via the long route).
There is another road to Gjirokastra which is quicker and will not go past Blue Eye so just make sure you clarify that you want to go to Blue Eye or Syri i Kaltër, which is the Albanian name for it.
You can tell the driver ‘Blue Eye’ and he will drop you off at the entrance.
There’s a paved path that will lead you to Syri i Kaltër via walking.
No cars or buses are allowed right to the entrance of Syri i Kaltër anymore; instead the entrance is now just off the main road.
Keep in mind that it’s around a 2km walk to the actual Blue Eye so make sure you bring a sunhat and sunscreen!
There is a small train that you can take if you really don’t want to walk or cannot.
These are the best methods for how to get to Blue Eye from Saranda.
When you want to go back to Saranda, you can walk back to where the bus dropped you off and wave down the next one you see.
Saranda to Blue Eye is about 30-40 30-minute drive for buses and they usually come by every hour.
You can also try hitchhiking as that is also very popular in Albania!
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How Much Does Syri i Kaltër Cost
The entrance fee for the Blue Eye is 50 Lek.
There are some reports that the fee is 100Lek or more however, there should be a sign at the entrance about how much it is.
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Can You Go Swimming in the Blue Eye?
The Blue Eye itself is a protected site so please do not jump in the water.
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Most likely you will see people swimming there as the laws are not enforced, however, please do your due diligence to protect this precious natural site.
Just because someone is not following the rules, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t either.
Other Things To Do in the Area
Unfortunately, there isn’t much to do nearby but it is a nice walk and at Syri i Kaltër there is a restaurant and an Albanian souvenir shop.
Most people spend an hour at the Blue Eye of Saranda but now it will take a little more time because you have to walk there and back.
My advice would be to take a packed lunch or grab some takeaways from a local Saranda restaurant, and enjoy a bite to eat out there.
My Top Tips for the Blue Eye in Albania
Go as early as you can if you’re visiting in the summer
This place gets busy with tour buses these days, unfortunately, so I advise going to the Blue Eye Albania as early or late as you can.
Please take all your rubbish with you!
Do not litter Syri i Kaltër.
Unfortunately, Albania has a big problem with rubbish, and it doesn’t need tourists adding to that problem.
Even if there are bins, unfortunately, the bins don’t get emptied too often and rubbish flies everywhere if it’s a windy day.
Leave the place how you found it.
And if you do see rubbish please be a good tourist and help pick it up!
Do the walk around the lake – don’t follow the crowds!
Many people just visit the Blue Eye and take the same road back, however, there’s actually a circular walk all the way around the lake.
If you want to veer off the path and see some more nature, then instead of turning left along the bridge, there’s a road to the right that you can take.
Just make sure you visit the box to pay the entrance fee first.
This entire walk takes around an hour and is very worth it.
If you are visiting in summer though when it’s 40 degrees, then you may want to skip this or at least take enough water with you and be safe.
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✅ Can you swim in the Blue Eye Albania?
Syri i Kaltër is a protected site and swimming is not allowed – this is to help preserve this natural phenomenon.
Unfortunately, it is not possible to stop people from jumping in but please do your due diligence and leave this beautiful lake alone, even if you see other people disrespecting this rule.
✅ How do I get to Blue Eye Albania?
Either by driving, catching a bus or taking a taxi.
There is no way to drive right up to Syri i Kalter itself; you will have to take the path from just off the main road. There
✅ How deep is the Blue Eye in Albania?
No one knows!
Or perhaps someone does, but divers have only managed to get 50 meters down due to the pressure.
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